Nami Grey And Natural Basket 33cm

A hand-woven oval banana bark basket in grey and natural tones

Most decorative baskets are round. The default cylindrical form works beautifully on a floor, in a corner, or anywhere a circular footprint suits the space — but it has one practical limitation. Cylindrical baskets are inefficient on rectangular surfaces. A round basket on a console table, a shelf, or against a wall always leaves awkward unused space behind, beside, or in front of it. An oval or oblong basket solves exactly that problem: it sits flush against walls, fits cleanly on rectangular surfaces, and uses the full depth of a console without intrusion. For specific placements, the shape change matters more than people expect.

The Nami Grey and Natural Basket is the only oblong piece in our basket range. Hand-woven from authentic banana bark in soft grey and natural tones, it measures 34 cm wide and 25 cm deep — a footprint that fits comfortably on a standard 30 cm-deep shelf or console — at 33 cm tall. The silhouette tapers gently from a wider opening to a slightly narrower base, giving the form a quietly considered shape rather than a strict box. Sturdy integrated handles on either side make it easy to lift down from a shelf or carry between rooms.

Why an oval silhouette and tabletop scale work together

The Nami’s combination of shape and size is built for specific placements that round baskets cannot serve as well.

It fits flush against walls and on shelves. The 25 cm depth is the genuine differentiator. Standard floating shelves and most console tables are between 25 and 30 cm deep — exactly the depth of this basket. Where a round basket of similar capacity would either hang off a shelf edge or sit awkwardly forward, the Nami sits clean and flush, using the full depth of the surface and aligning neatly with the back wall. For built-in shelving, console arrangements, kitchen island shelves and bedside tabletops, this matters significantly.

The 33 cm height stays under the eye-line on a tabletop. A taller basket on a console or shelf can dominate the surrounding decor. At 33 cm, the Nami sits below the typical eye-line of a standing adult when placed on a tabletop or low console, allowing it to hold contents discreetly while letting other decor pieces — vases, lamps, art — read above it. It is sized to support styling rather than compete with it.

The tapered form softens the geometry. A perfectly straight-sided basket reads as utilitarian — useful but visually rigid. The Nami’s gentle taper from top to base softens the silhouette, which is why it pairs comfortably with curved decor objects, organic shapes and softer textiles. The geometry is structured enough to hold its place but not so rigid that it feels imposed on the space.

Where a tabletop oval basket sits best

The Nami’s compact scale and oblong form suit specific placements within a styled home.

On a console or sideboard for everyday catch-all storage. The most natural placement. Positioned on an entryway console or a living room sideboard, the Nami holds keys, mail, sunglasses, dog leads, or any of the small items that accumulate on flat surfaces. The compact footprint means it doesn’t crowd other decor pieces on the same surface — a vase, a lamp, a framed photograph all coexist comfortably alongside it.

On a kitchen counter or open shelf. The 25 cm depth fits standard kitchen shelves and counters cleanly. Use it to hold dish towels, coffee accessories, fruit, herbs, or anything that needs to live within reach in the kitchen. The natural materials read warmer than plastic or metal storage, which is part of why woven baskets work so well in modern kitchens.

On a bedside table for evening essentials. Compact enough to live on a generous bedside surface alongside a lamp and an alarm clock, the Nami holds books, reading glasses, lip balm, a small notebook — the small bedtime accumulation that otherwise scatters across the surface. Tucked beside the lamp, the basket organises the bedside without dominating it.

On open shelving for styled storage. Built-in shelves, freestanding bookcases, and floating shelves all benefit from a piece of styled storage that holds odds and ends without looking utilitarian. The Nami slips into a shelf line as both a functional storage piece and a textural decor element — particularly effective when grouped with books, ceramics or framed art on adjacent shelves.

In a bathroom on a vanity or shelf. The compact oval form is well suited to the typically tighter surfaces of bathroom vanities and bath shelving. Use it for rolled face cloths, cotton pads, hair accessories or smaller toiletries. Banana bark handles bathroom humidity comfortably with regular dusting.

What to pair the Nami basket with

The grey and natural palette and compact scale set up specific pairings across the Sotran range.

With other woven and natural-fibre pieces. The Nami works as the smallest companion in a grouping from the Baskets range — a tall floor basket for blankets, a mid-size floor basket for everyday use, and the Nami on a shelf or console above. The size and shape variation creates a curated grouping rather than a uniform set.

On Sotran consoles and sideboards. Position the Nami on a piece from the Sideboards & Consoles range, paired with a piece from the Wall Mirrors range above and a small lamp or vase from the Pots & Vases range. The combination creates a complete entryway or hallway styling moment — basket, console, mirror, and accent lighting.

In a bedroom alongside softer textiles. Use the Nami on a bedside table or shelf, with pieces from the Bedside Pedestals range nearby. Combined with cushions and throws from the Cushions and Throws ranges, the bedroom builds into a soft, layered scheme that the basket organises rather than competes with.

In a kitchen with natural-material pieces. The Nami pairs naturally with pieces from the Kitchenalia tag — wooden boards, ceramics, woven trays. The grey-and-natural palette sits comfortably against pale stone counters, white cabinetry and natural wood — the typical Mediterranean and modern farmhouse kitchen palette.

With smaller decor objects. The compact size means the Nami works as a styled vessel for smaller decor pieces from the Decorative and Stone & Pottery ranges — fill it loosely with seed pods, wooden beads, or smaller ceramic objects for a styled tabletop arrangement.

The character of grey-toned banana bark

The grey-and-natural palette is the Nami’s defining colour story. A few things about this combination are worth knowing.

The grey tones soften banana bark’s typical warmth. Pure banana bark reads as warm — earthy browns and golden tans dominate the palette. The grey wash on the Nami cools that warmth slightly, producing a more neutral, contemporary aesthetic that pairs better with grey-and-white interior schemes than a fully natural basket would. It is the basket choice for buyers whose home leans cooler in tone.

Grey works as a bridge colour. Of all the neutrals, grey is the most flexible bridge between warm and cool palettes — it pairs with both warm wood and cool stone, with both soft cream and crisp white. A grey-toned basket fits comfortably in both the Mediterranean and the Scandi-Japanese aesthetic, which is why it has become one of the most versatile colour stories in modern decor.

The natural fibre tones still come through. The grey is a wash rather than a paint — the underlying texture and tonal variation of the bark are still visible through the colour. The piece reads as a natural-material basket with a tonal shift, not a painted basket masking the fibre underneath. That balance is what keeps the Nami honest as a hand-woven natural-material piece while still delivering on the contemporary grey-and-natural palette.

Caring for a hand-woven banana bark basket

One of the practical pleasures of natural-fibre storage is how little maintenance it actually needs. The Nami is built for everyday use and only asks for the lightest care to keep looking its best for years. Dust the exterior occasionally with a soft, dry cloth or a soft-bristle brush — the brush works well for lifting any settled dust from the woven texture. For the interior, a gentle vacuum with the soft brush attachment lifts dust and any small debris from the base.

For any marks on the exterior, spot-clean gently with a barely damp cloth and a small amount of mild soap if needed, then allow the basket to air-dry naturally. The basket is built for dry storage rather than wet contents — if used in a bathroom or kitchen near water, position away from direct splashing zones.

Position the basket out of prolonged direct sunlight to preserve the depth of the grey tones over the years. Lift the basket by the handles to move it rather than dragging — the sturdy handles are designed for exactly this purpose. With this minimal care, a hand-woven banana bark basket settles into a home for the long term: one of those quietly useful pieces that earns its place wherever it lives.